AHF Webinar Spotlights Equity as Pandemic Agreement Nears Finish Line

Thursday, April 23, 10:00 AM EDT Miami, USA, via Zoom

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), in collaboration with the University of Miami Public Health Policy Lab, will cohost a webinar, “Will Equity Prevail? The PABS Annex Negotiations at Their Final Hour,” on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT, virtually via Zoom. Register here.

As WHO Pandemic Agreement negotiations enter a decisive phase ahead of the next Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) session, Member States are working to finalize the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex—an essential component that will determine how equity is operationalized in practice. This moderated panel will bring together Member State negotiators for a dynamic, high-level exchange examining the most critical unresolved issues in the negotiations, including benefit-sharing obligations, governance and system design, and user registration and traceability mechanisms.

The discussion will provide real-time insights into the state of negotiations, including key points of convergence and contention across countries and regions, as well as the practical design choices that will determine whether the PABS system delivers a credible, enforceable, and equitable framework. The session will feature structured interventions from panelists representing diverse national perspectives, followed by interactive discussion and audience engagement.

WHAT:	Webinar: "Will Equity Prevail? The PABS Annex Negotiations at Their Final Hour"
WHEN:	Thursday, April 23, 2026   TIME: 10:00–11:15 AM EDT   15:00-16:15 GMT 16:00–17:15 CEST/CAT 17:00–18:15 EAT/AST 20:00-21:15 IST 22:00–23:15 CST/MYT 23:00-00:15 KST/JST
WHERE:	Virtual Event via Zoom. Registration Link.
WHO:	EXPERT PANELISTS (In alphabetical order): Mr. Eirik Bakka — Health Counsellor, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jean Karydakis — Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations Mr. Adeel Khokhar — First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations in Geneva Ms. Nurhafiza Md Hamzah — Former Minister Counsellor (Health), Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the UN and Other International Organizations Dr. Taime Sylvester — Namibia Delegation Negotiator   MODERATOR:   Mr. Guilherme Faviero — Director, AHF Global Public Health Institute at the University of Miami
NEWS DESK NOTE & B-ROLL VISUALS	Please see attached flyer.
MEDIA CONTACTS:	Denys Nazarov, Director of Global Policy & Communications, AHF, +1.323.308.1829, [e-mail]   Brian Shepherd, Associate Director of Global Communications, AHF, +1.808.382.8570, [e-mail]

PANEL OBJECTIVES:

This session will provide a platform for high-level, policy-relevant exchange on the design and implementation of the PABS system at a critical stage in negotiations. Participants will:

• Examine the current state of negotiations and identify the key “make-or-break” issues shaping the final outcome
• Assess how core components of the PABS system—benefit-sharing, governance, and accountability mechanisms—can operationalize equity in practice
• Explore differing perspectives across Member States, including areas of convergence and remaining points of contention
• Evaluate practical design considerations, including user registration, traceability, and legal frameworks, necessary to ensure system integrity and enforceability

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 2.9 million individuals across 50 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. In January 2025, AHF received the MLK, Jr. Social Justice Award, The King Center’s highest recognition for an organization leading work in the social justice arena. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

The AHF Global Public Health Institute is an initiative of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation created to engage in global public health policy analysis and research to generate objective evidence that can inform improvements in public health policy at the global, regional, national, and local levels, particularly for infectious diseases. To learn more about the AHF Global Public Health Institute, visit https://ahfinstitute.org/.

The University of Miami Public Health Policy Lab is dedicated to advancing research, policy analysis, and collaborative initiatives that strengthen public health systems globally, with a particular focus on the Global South. Through interdisciplinary research, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-driven policy recommendations, the lab addresses critical challenges in global health governance, regional health cooperation, and infectious disease response. Our work informs strategies to enhance health equity, pandemic preparedness, and integrated health systems, fostering regional and international collaboration. To learn more about the UM Public Health Policy Lab, visit https://www.publichealth.med.miami.edu/research/research-labs/umphpl/index.html or to view our previous webinar and event recordings visit https://www.youtube.com/@MiamiPolicyLab.